A 29-year-old Nigerian hairdresser who allegedly trafficked a girl from Nigeria to Ghana to engage in prostitution has been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court. Omotola Daramola has been charged with human trafficking but pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mrs Rita Abrokwah Doko. Omotola is expected to reappear […]

A 29-year-old Nigerian hairdresser who allegedly trafficked a girl from Nigeria to Ghana to engage in prostitution has been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.

Omotola Daramola has been charged with human trafficking but pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Mrs Rita Abrokwah Doko.

Omotola is expected to reappear on March 5.

State prosecutor, Chief Inspector Grace Bandoh, prayed the court to remand Omotola to assist in further investigations.

Facts

Chief Inspector Bandoh narrated that the victim (name withheld) is a Nigerian and Omotola is also Nigerian but resident in the country.

The prosecution said on February 10, this year, the Accra Regional Operations Command gathered intelligence that Omotola had recruited and transported the victim from Nigeria to Ghana for sexual exploitation.

She said as a result of that intelligence, a Police Officer was dispatched to the Weija in Accra and Omotola was arrested and the victim was rescued.

The prosecution said the accused woman and the victim were handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for further investigations.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that one T.K or YK in Nigeria assisted Omotola in recruiting the victim from Nigeria under the pretext of securing the victim job at Omotola’s hair salon.

The prosecution said further investigations revealed that it was Omotola who gave T.K GH 700.00 to transport the victim to Ghana.

According to prosecution Omotola met the victim in Ghana and took her to Weija, near SCC where they both lived.

Chief Inspector Bandoh said Omotola compelled the victim to engage in prostitution and collects all the proceeds the victim made.

A 33-year-old man, Edward Boafo has been remanded in police custody at Assin Fosu in the Central region for burning the feet of his five year old son. Boafo was said to have accused his son, Kwame, of eating stew meant for the whole family. Five year old Kwame was said to have insistently told […]

A 33-year-old man, Edward Boafo has been remanded in police custody at Assin Fosu in the Central region for burning the feet of his five year old son.

Boafo was said to have accused his son, Kwame, of eating stew meant for the whole family.

Five year old Kwame was said to have insistently told his father that he did not eat the stew but Edward allegedly held the feet of the son on a coal pot with fire till the feet were sore and covered with blisters in his attempt to extract the “truth”.

Presenting the facts of the case to the court, Inspector Gilbert Ayongo told the court presided over by his Worship Samuel Kotey that on Thursday, February 14, 2019, Boafo returned from work to find out that someone had eaten the stew.

Suspecting his son Kwame, Boafo questioned Kwame several times but he (Kwame) denied eating the stew.

Boafo then held Kwame’s feet above coal pot with fire.

The co-tenants seeing the harm that had been done to the boy reported the incident to the police and Boafo was arrested.

The Assin Fosu district court presided over by his worship Samuel Djanie Kotey on Monday remanded him in police custody to appear again on March 19, 2019.

Meanwhile Kwame is now in the custody of the social welfare department at Assin Fosu receiving care.

Gregory Afoko, one of the suspects in the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Adams Mahama, in 2015, has challenged the Attorney-General (A-G) for discontinuing his trial at the High Court. In his writ invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, Afoko is seeking a declaration […]

Gregory Afoko, one of the suspects in the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Adams Mahama, in 2015, has challenged the Attorney-General (A-G) for discontinuing his trial at the High Court.

In his writ invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, Afoko is seeking a declaration that the nolle prosequi filed by the A-G on January 28, 2019 is a violation of articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution and, therefore, “unconstitutional, null and void”.

Article 23 imposes a duty on administrative bodies to “act fairly, reasonably and comply with the requirement imposed on them by law”, while Article 296 stipulates that persons or bodies vested with a discretionary power shall not exercise that discretionary power arbitrarily or capriciously.

Afoko is further seeking an order nullifying the nolle prosequi and for “the High Court to continue to hear the case to its legal conclusion”.

Recall

Alhaji Mahama suffered severe bodily injuries after a substance suspected to be acid was allegedly poured on him in front of his house in Bolgatanga on May 20, 2015. He later died from the injuries at the Bolgatanga General Hospital.

Afoko’s trial started in 2016 and was nearing completion after the prosecution and the defence had closed their cases.

On January 26, 2019, Afoko closed his case after he and his brother, John Ishmael Afoko, had testified.

The prosecution, led by a Chief State Attorney, Mr Matthew Amponsah, had called 14 individuals as prosecution witnesses.

Subsequently, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Lawrence Mensah, directed the two parties to file their written addresses.

Nolle prosequi

However, on January, 28, 2019, the A-G filed a nolle prosequi to discontinue the trial following the arrest of the other suspect, Asabke Alangdi, who had been on the run since the incident occurred in 2015.

Afoko and Alangdi were then put before the Accra Central District Court on provisional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder for committal proceedings, which are a prelude to the trial at the High Court.

In his writ at the Supreme Court, Afoko is also praying for an order terminating the case at the district court.

File an application

At yesterday’s hearing at the Accra Central District Court, the lawyer for Afoko, Ms Benedicta Ansah, urged the court to stay proceedings pending the final determination of the writ filed at the Supreme Court.

In response, a State Attorney, Ms Lily Atutigah, informed the court that Afoko’s lawyer wrote to the Registrar of the court about the case at the Supreme Court, instead of filing a formal application for a stay of proceedings.argued that the proceedings could not be halted by a mere letter to the registrar of the District Court.

The presiding magistrate, Ms Efua Sackey, agreed with the State Attorney and directed Afoko’s lawyers to file a formal application and also serve the A-G.

Myjoyonline.com is learning of the arrest of former Municipal Chief Executive for Ejisu-Juabeng in the Ashanti Region, Afrifa Yamoah-Ponkoh. Police in the Ashanti Region confirmed the arrest of the erstwhile John Mahama appointee to Luv FM’s Kwasi Debrah, Tuesday. About 15 armed security men in two police vehicles stormed his Fumesua residence and picked the […]

Myjoyonline.com is learning of the arrest of former Municipal Chief Executive for Ejisu-Juabeng in the Ashanti Region, Afrifa Yamoah-Ponkoh.

Police in the Ashanti Region confirmed the arrest of the erstwhile John Mahama appointee to Luv FM’s Kwasi Debrah, Tuesday.

About 15 armed security men in two police vehicles stormed his Fumesua residence and picked the politician, his househelp told the reporter.

It is unclear why he was picked up but it is believed to be in connection with Monday’s fatal shooting at the Regional Office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kumasi which left one person dead and another seriously wounded.

According to an eye witness, the assailant, associated with an NDC militia, the Hawks, shot an NDC man thrice. First in the leg as he run and twice in the chest at close range as he lay vulnerable.

The man whose identity is yet to be confirmed was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital but died upon arrival. A statement from the party has confirmed the shooting and death.

The Ashanti Region Police is on a manhunt for four persons said to be connected to the crime. They are Husein Barnabas, also known as Warrior, Mijima, Damos, and Abu Taliban as named in a statement issued by the police.

General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has told Joy FM, the party will not shield the perpetrators.

“We have indicated that crime has no party colours. We don’t know who perpetrated this but because of the presence of the eyewitness, I am sure it will not be difficult for the police to get people to identify the perpetrators. Whoever did this should be picked up and dealt with according to law,” he added.

]]>https://www.newswiregh.com/former-ejisu-juabeng-mce-yamoah-ponkoh-arrested/feed/017321Police on manhunt for four over shootings at NDC office in Kumasihttps://www.newswiregh.com/police-on-manhunt-over-shootings-in-kumasi/
https://www.newswiregh.com/police-on-manhunt-over-shootings-in-kumasi/#respondTue, 19 Feb 2019 08:11:39 +0000https://www.newswiregh.com/?p=17212

The police is on a manhunt for four men responsible for the death of one person at the regional party office of the opposition National Democratic Congress on Monday. The four, reported to be members of NDC vigilante group the Hawks, are said to have sporadically shot into a crowd in front of the regional […]

The police is on a manhunt for four men responsible for the death of one person at the regional party office of the opposition National Democratic Congress on Monday.

The four, reported to be members of NDC vigilante group the Hawks, are said to have sporadically shot into a crowd in front of the regional party office even as National Executives of the NDC were engaged in a meeting with some party members.

The shooting allegedly led to the death of one person while leaving another in critical condition.

The police say they have mounted a search for the four and will stop at nothing to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book.

Government has meanwhile condemned the violence which occurred at the NDC regional office in Kumasi.

According to a statement signed by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, such acts, as reprehensible as they are, must be eschewed “from all spheres of our national life.”

The statement adds that ‘citizens and groups are further encouraged to desist from actions that create a state of insecurity in our nation.’

Akwasi Nyantakyi, a cleaner who was accused of defiling a 10-year-old girl at the Ringway Estates in Osu, has been acquitted and discharged by a Circuit Court in Accra. This was after the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku had found Nyantakyi not guilty on the charge of defilement. Mrs Harriet Jane Akweley […]

Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire who led the prosecution said the complainant is the victim’s mother.

He said Nyantakyi resides in the same house with the victim and her mother at Osu and that Nyantakyi and one Akwasi Agyemang are family members residing in victim’s father’s boys’ quarters.

The Prosecution said on May 4, last year, at about 1500 hours the victim went to wash her hands at a tap near the boys’ quarters and met Nyantakyi there.

The prosecution said Nyantakyi fondled the victim’s body which the victim resisted.

According to the prosecution, Nyantakyi then pulled the victim into the corridor of the boys’ quarters carried her on his lap and had sex with her.

The prosecution said the victim saw blood stains in her pants when she went to bath later that evening.

The Prosecution said again on May 5 last year, the victim saw blood stains and this time reported the matter to her mother who also lodged a complainant with the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit, Accra where a medical report form was issued to her to seek medical care for the victim.

He said Nyantakyi was later arrested by the Police.

In another development, the same court has acquitted and discharged one Augustine Atta, a driver’s mate who was being held for having sex with a 14-year-old girl at Madina Social Welfare.

In a judgement, the court held that it found Atta not guilty on the charge of defilement.

Atta was said to have pulled the victim into his room and had sex with her after he sent the alleged victim to buy him food on July 4, 2017, at Madina.

The family of a woman who was allegedly beaten to death by her husband is demanding justice for her. They are accusing the police of shielding the main suspect. According to the family, her death was caused by internal bleeding. Belinda Aduna, died on Monday 21st January 2019 after her husband, Mawuli Armah allegedly beat […]

The family of a woman who was allegedly beaten to death by her husband is demanding justice for her.

They are accusing the police of shielding the main suspect.

According to the family, her death was caused by internal bleeding.

Belinda Aduna, died on Monday 21st January 2019 after her husband, Mawuli Armah allegedly beat her up.

The Adentan Police have since arrested Mawuli.

An uncle of the deceased, James Kweku Badumeh, believes the police are shielding the suspect whose father is a Senior officer at the Police Headquarters.

James Kweku Badumeh who spoke to Citi News narrated the incident and complained bitterly about the alleged conduct of the police.

“The long and short of the matter is, we [the family] are not satisfied with the autopsy results. It is not acceptable that a man beat up his wife, break her teeth and cause her to bleed profusely. I took the deceased to the hospital; she died on arrival. The autopsy results given us indicated that the cause of death could not be determined. But that is absurd.”

“Even when a person falls ill mysteriously, or goes to sleep and doesn’t wake up, the doctors are able to identify the cause of death. But they are telling us that they have no idea what lead to her death so we are appealing to the media to help us sustain this story so that justice can be served.”

Kweku Badumeh said, “the father of suspect is a high-ranking police officer; [and] we believe he has allegedly paid someone to get his son out of the grips of the law.”

At the residence of Belinda, it was apparent that the husband consistently beat her.

A neighbour who recounted some of the assault incidents she witnessed said, “the man beats up his wife quite often. He sometimes uses a rod to whip her. He sometimes even flogs her with wire. There was even a time he put her head inside a bucket of soapy water. They usually fought, and very often too”.

The Adentan Police Command told Citi News that the suspect, Mawuli Armah will be put before court on March 5, 2019.

The woman who inflicted knife wound on the hand of her 5-year-old step-son leading to its amputation has been convicted of a fine of Gh¢ 1,020 or in default, go to jail for 18 months. Efua Abeduwa pleaded guilty to the charge of causing harm to the boy at the Abura Dunkwa District Court. The […]

The woman who inflicted knife wound on the hand of her 5-year-old step-son leading to its amputation has been convicted of a fine of Gh¢ 1,020 or in default, go to jail for 18 months.

Efua Abeduwa pleaded guilty to the charge of causing harm to the boy at the Abura Dunkwa District Court. The court, presided over by Justice Anthony Tabiri Abebrese said he took into consideration the condition of the stepmother and the fact that she pleaded guilty to the charge.

Another accused person, David Mensah, the biological father of the boy, pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment to the crime and has been remanded to prison custody to reappear on February 28, where a full trial will begin.

Third accused, Isaac Eduful, who treated the boy at his facility when the boy’s hand was almost decomposing, was also hauled before the court. The Prosecutors amended the earlier charge to include him since they believe he played a part in the boy’s current predicament. He pleaded guilty to the charge of abetment but with an explanation.

He told the court, the boy was brought to him on January 21 and even though, he did not have any license he had compassion on the boy and decided to treat him.

Anthony Tabiri Abebrebrese then asked: “You are not a professional doctor; why did you do that?

Eduful responded: “My Lord, I had compassion on the boy.”

Anthony Tabiri Abebrese: “Do you have a license?”

Eduful: “I only have a certificate with the Ghana Homeopathy Medical Association,” he said, and presented the certificate to the judge.

Anthony Tabiri said he was not convinced by the certificate and ordered that it be destroyed.

“Why did you refer the boy to a bigger facility then,” he quizzed the accused.

The court rejected his explanation that he had compassion on the boy and wanted to do something to help.

The judge convicted him of the offence and fined him 50 penalty units, equivalent to Gh¢600 or in default he will serve 12 months in jail.

Curious residents who filled the court Thursday expressed their disappointment with the punishment meted out to the stepmother after the court’s decision was announced. Some of them who spoke to Joy News said the punishment was too light considering the permanent damage caused to the boy.

Background

The story as recounted by Joy News’ Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, had it that according to the accused she was going to farm with Isaac, the victim, who took the lead and defecated on the farm.

The deteriorating health of Isaac first came to public attention when two people who went to his village saw him and took him to Social Welfare.

Doctors at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital successfully amputated the hand of the five-year-old boy.

“The surgery was conducted Wednesday morning and the boy is receiving further treatment at the recovery unit of the hospital,” Kwadwo Nyarkop reported.

He added that little Isaac is in the company of social welfare workers and some staff of the hospital who are providing him with the needed emotional support.

The Western Regional Police Command has prosecuted nine persons from Takoradi for faking kidnappings and extortions. The nine, six of whom are Senior High School students took advantage of the confusion over the surge in kidnapping to make money and in some instances to settle personal scores. The six students between the age of 16 […]

The Western Regional Police Command has prosecuted nine persons from Takoradi for faking kidnappings and extortions.

The nine, six of whom are Senior High School students took advantage of the confusion over the surge in kidnapping to make money and in some instances to settle personal scores.

The six students between the age of 16 and 19 from four different schools in Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis aided and faked kidnaps and demanded ransoms.

The lead suspect, De-Vreeze Quaino of GSTS pleaded guilty to his two charges of deceiving a public officer and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The case has been adjourned to 19th February after two of the six suspects pleaded not-guilty while the remaining four pleaded guilty.

The Presiding Judge, Michael Ampadu granted four out of the six suspects’ permission to be with their parents on grounds of being underage.

Justice Michael Ampadu who was not happy with the conduct of the students advised them.

The judge said he will give a deterring sentence when the case resumes on the 19th of February.

Judge Ampadu, however, remanded the students into prison custody but for lack of juvenile prisons in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, four out of the six were to go with their parents and two above 17 remanded.

The students are Quainu De-Vreezse a 17 year student of the Ghana Senior High Technical School [GSTS], Anthony Osei Prempeh, 18 year student of GSTS, Daniel Kwesi Essel, 17, from Fijai Senior High School, Elijah Sam, 16, from the Takoradi Technical Institute [TTI], Calib Windbridge Aryetey Tagoe, 16, from TTI and the Evelyn Agyapong, 19, from the Takoradi Senior High School.

The Western Regional Police PRO, DSP Olivia Adiku who gave Citi News details of the case said the involvements of the student in the fake kidnapping case is very worrying.

Three of the students pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit crime while the remaining two pleaded not-guilty.

Arrests

De-Vreeze Quaynoo, allegedly conspired with some other students to fake the kidnapping claim.

Police said they were pursuing the other four accomplices.

Facts

Reports from the Metropolitan Police Crime Officer, Superintendent Alhaji Musah Hussein Awinaba, stated that Daniel and De-Vreeze bought and registered a new SIM card to be used in making calls for the money-extorting effort.

The SIM card was allegedly used to call De-Vreeze’s parents and relatives who lived at Sefwi Wiawso, that De-Vreeze had been kidnapped and the assailants were demanding a ransom of GH¢9000.

Sup. Hussein said at 9:20 p.m. last Wednesday, the Senior Housemaster of GSTS, Mr Bernard Adu Ampako, informed the police that Quaynoo had left the school premises about 3 p.m. and had subsequently been reported kidnapped by an unknown caller.

When the team arrived at the scene, they found De-Vreeze’s school uniform in the house and asked how the uniform got there.

The landlady told the police that De-vreeze and the other alleged accomplices, namely Osei-Prempeh, Daniel and Evelyn, visited her son, Elijah Sam, the previous night and stayed until 10 p.m. when she asked them to go back home.

The landlady said although they left, they returned to her son the following morning with an explanation that they were there to study.

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday remanded two persons for allegedly defrauding a policewoman of GH₵60,000 under the pretext of clearing her two vehicles from the port for her. Foster Afomale, a mechanic, was charged with obtaining electronic payment falsely and defrauding by false pretence whilst Kwaku Agbetor, a mason and Togolese was charged with […]

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday remanded two persons for allegedly defrauding a policewoman of GH₵60,000 under the pretext of clearing her two vehicles from the port for her.

Foster Afomale, a mechanic, was charged with obtaining electronic payment falsely and defrauding by false pretence whilst Kwaku Agbetor, a mason and Togolese was charged with abetment of crime.

Their pleas were not taken as prosecution prayed for time to do further investigation. They will return to court on February 18.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Nyamekye told the Court presided over by Mrs Ruby Naa Aryeetey that the complainant, Florence Antwi is a Police officer stationed at the Kotoka International Airport.

According to ASP Nyamekye, in October 2018, Madam Antwi received a text message from a US sim number by which the sender introduced himself as one Captain Richmond Tawiah, a Ghanaian military officer on a UN mission to the United States.

The Prosecution said the complainant and the alleged military officer became friends and exchanged messages and pictures.

He said the said military man shared his desire of buying himself a car and another one for her.

The Prosecution said the complainant showed interest and the alleged officer sent pictures of some cars to her which made her believe that he had bought those cars.

ASP Nyamekye said the alleged military man proceeded by sending the contact of a supposed clearing agent, who the complainant contacted.

The suposed clearing agent asked the complainant to pay GH₵60,000 for that purpose.

He said a GCB account bearing the name of Agbetor was given to her and she deposited the amount for clearing the cars after conferring with the said military man.

The prosecution said after the money was deposited, the phone lines of both “the soldier” as well as “the agent,” were blocked and the cars too were not sent to her.

ASP Nyamekye said when the ‘pictures’ of the soldier were used to trace him at Burma camp, the real Captain Randy Tawiah showed up but denied taking part in the scheme and revealed that other ladies have also fallen victim to such scams with the perpetrators using his pictures.

He said investigations revealed that the pictures were downloaded from his Facebook wall to perpetuate the crime.

The prosecution said on January 14, this year, the suspects were arrested and in their statements, Afomale claimed he received a message alert when the money was deposited so he called Agbetor who came to Aflao to withdraw the money for him, for which he gave Agbetor Gh₵1,500 as his fee.

The Prosecution said Afomale claimed he transferred the money via mobile money to one Daniel Dumenu, the brain behind the crime who is currently serving a jail-term at the Ankaful Prisons.